symbiotic
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From symbiosis + -tic, from Ancient Greek συμβίωσις (sumbíōsis), from σύν (sún, “with”) + βίος (bíos, “life”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɒt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɒt.ɪk/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˌsɪm.baɪˈɑt.ɪk/, /ˌsɪm.biˈɑt.ɪk/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file) - Rhymes: -ɒtɪk
Adjective[edit]
symbiotic (not comparable)
- (ecology) Of, or relating to symbiosis; living together.
- A lichen is a fungus with symbiotic algae among its cells.
- 2014 April 5, “Quite interesting: A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week; QI orchids you not”, in The Daily Telegraph (Weekend), page W22:
- Orchids rely on fungi to reproduce. Their tiny seeds don't have any on-board nutrients (like beans and apples) and will not germinate until they are infected by a symbiotic fungus which supplies them with food. Known as a protocorm, this tiny orchid-fungus ball grows, turns green and eventually starts to photosynthesise.
- Of a relationship with mutual benefit between two individuals or organisms.
Usage notes[edit]
Although the biologic meaning of symbiotic strictly refers to "living together", regardless of the nature of the relationship, in casual speech the word typically implies a beneficial relationship.
Synonyms[edit]
- (with mutual benefit): mutualistic
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
biology: living together
|
having a mutually beneficial relationship
|
Noun[edit]
symbiotic (plural symbiotics)
Categories:
- English terms suffixed with -tic
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɒtɪk
- Rhymes:English/ɒtɪk/4 syllables
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- en:Ecology
- English terms with quotations
- English nouns
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- en:Astronomy
- English relational adjectives